Superintendent offers "Welcome Back"

Friday

Aug 29, 2008 at 7:22 PM

The following is a "Welcome Back" letter from Portia S. Bonner, New Bedford Superintendent of Schools:

September 2008

Dear Students and Families,

Welcome back to another school year, and a special welcome to our new students! Hopefully this will prove to be an exciting year for new discoveries, academic advancement, application of skills, and development. This year will be one of change, as the district undergoes a transformation. We will focus on the development of the whole child, creating a culture that fosters academic excellence and celebrates the diversity which our students bring to their various learning experiences.

It is our expectation that all of our children attending the New Bedford Public Schools will achieve a level of academic proficiency or beyond, demonstrating excellence in all aspects of their education. To assist them in fulfilling this expectation, we will challenge them to achieve grade-level expectations, to express themselves both verbally and orally, to think critically, to solve problems through application, and to build character and self-confidence.

Families play a pivotal role in helping us to be successful, and we welcome you into the schools. We want you to be involved in your child’s education and ask that you reiterate learning at home by valuing the importance of education. By engaging your children in conversations about what they have learned at school, encouraging them to read and use basic math skills and, most importantly, making sure they attend school on time, you will show them that school is a priority in your life and should be in theirs.

We ask you to remember that our attendance quota is 95%, and other than for excused absences (sick, etc.,) all students will be expected to meet this quota. For this reason, we urge that you schedule your vacations during the school year to coincide with school vacations to minimize any days of non-attendance.

Finally, I wish all of you a healthy, happy, and successful school year. Should you encounter any problems or need help, please do not hesitate to contact my Help Desk at (508) 997-4511, Ext. 3294.

Yours truly,

Portia S. Bonner, Ph.D.Superintendent of Schools

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